The morning sun filtered through the tinted windows of Tianhua University, painting golden streaks across the marble floors. Students bustled around the courtyard, phones in hand, voices buzzing like a swarm of curious bees.
"Hey, have you heard? Li Cheng's back!"
"You mean that Li Cheng? The poor guy who got dumped by Lin Yue for some middle-aged tycoon?"
"Yeah, but apparently he disappeared for a few weeks and came back totally different. I heard he knocked out Zhao Wei, the boxing club champion, in one punch!"
Whispers spread like wildfire.
Li Cheng adjusted the strap of his worn-out backpack and walked calmly through the gates, his golden-red hair gleaming beneath the morning light. His red eyes—once full of insecurity and pain—now burned with quiet confidence.
The air around him seemed to pulse with something unseen, an aura that made even the loudest chatter fade for a moment.
His steps were unhurried, almost lazy, yet every movement carried a strange, commanding grace.
And when he smiled faintly, several girls nearby stopped mid-conversation, blushing.
"Whoa… was he always that good-looking?"
"No way. He used to look… normal. Did he do plastic surgery or something?"
"Or maybe he just awakened his final form after heartbreak."
Li Cheng's lips twitched.
Final form, huh?
If only they knew the truth—that every morning he "signed in" for new skills, and every night his mysterious system threw ridiculous face-slapping missions his way.
[Ding!]
Daily Sign-In Complete!
Reward: +10 Charisma, +5 Strength, and "Golden Aura of Confidence (Lv.1)" unlocked!Description: Increases your coolness factor by 100%. Causes ex-girlfriends to experience mild regret symptoms upon visual contact._
Li Cheng chuckled inwardly.
"Perfect timing."
He was halfway across the courtyard when he heard an all-too-familiar voice dripping with fake sweetness.
"Oh? Isn't this Li Cheng?"
The crowd parted like a wave.
Standing there was Lin Yue, his ex-girlfriend — dressed in designer clothes, clutching a luxury handbag, and wearing a smile that screamed "I made it."
Beside her stood Zhao Yong, a middle-aged man with a gold chain thick enough to leash a tiger. His belly strained against a custom suit, and his eyes carried the smugness of someone who thought money solved everything.
Li Cheng stopped, his smile calm. "Lin Yue. Been a while."
Her tone turned mocking.
"Indeed. I almost didn't recognize you. You've… changed. Though, I guess anyone would after realizing they couldn't keep up in life."
The students nearby exchanged glances, sensing drama brewing. Phones came out. Recording mode — on.
Zhao Yong sneered, puffing his chest.
"This the kid you used to date? Hmph. Looks like my investment paid off — you definitely upgraded."
Li Cheng's grin didn't falter. "Ah, so this is the man who sponsors your fashion sense now."
Lin Yue's face twitched. "W-What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing," Li Cheng said smoothly. "Just that it must take great courage to downgrade from loyalty to… cholesterol."
A sharp "Pfft!" escaped from the crowd. Someone actually laughed out loud.
Zhao Yong's face darkened. "You little brat! Do you know who I am?! I could—"
[Ding!]
New Face-Slapping Quest Unlocked!
Task: Humiliate "Zhao Yong – Wannabe Tycoon (Lv.3)" in public.
Reward: ¥10,000 + Skill "Verbal Slap (Lv.1)"
Bonus: +5 Charisma if spectators record and upload the incident online.
Li Cheng's grin widened. "Oh, I know exactly who you are. The question is—do you know who you're talking to?"
The older man blinked. "What?"
Li Cheng took a step closer, his voice smooth, confident, and echoing just enough to draw the full attention of the courtyard.
"I'm the man she'll regret losing for the rest of her life."
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Phones zoomed in. Someone whispered, "He's insane… or a legend."
Lin Yue's face turned red. "You—you're delusional! You were just a broke loser! I gave you five years of my life!"
"Five years?" Li Cheng said softly, his eyes flashing red for a brief moment. "Funny. I thought those were my five years I gave to you."
A hush fell.
Then—he smiled. "But don't worry. I've upgraded too."
He reached into his bag and pulled out a sleek-looking black card, the kind that only elite members of the Heavenly Bank owned.
The crowd erupted.
"Wait, isn't that the premium card reserved for people with at least ten million yuan in assets?!""How does a university student have that?!""This guy's playing real-life Monopoly!"
Lin Yue's jaw dropped. "T-Ten million…?!"
Zhao Yong's swagger vanished, replaced by cold sweat. "Y-You're bluffing. No student—"
Li Cheng smiled faintly and tapped his phone. Within seconds, Zhao Yong's phone buzzed — a transfer alert blinking on the screen.
[Incoming Payment: ¥10,000,000.00]
Sender: Li Cheng
The silence was deafening.
Then laughter burst from the crowd.
"Damn! Talk about reverse face-slap!"
"Rich second gen? More like rich final boss!"
Lin Yue's face twisted in disbelief. "That's impossible! You were poor! You couldn't even afford lunch some days!"
"Ah," Li Cheng said, smirking. "But you see, the difference between us now is simple… I upgraded, while you downgraded."
The system chimed cheerfully.
[Quest Complete!]
Reward Received: ¥10,000 + "Verbal Slap (Lv.1)" +5 Charisma!
Bonus Unlocked: "Public Humiliation Multiplier — active for 24 hours."
As the crowd burst into laughter and whispers, Lin Yue stormed off in tears. Zhao Yong tried to follow, but not before tripping over a loose tile and falling face-first into a puddle.
Li Cheng sighed dramatically. "Karma sure has fast delivery these days."
The courtyard exploded with laughter.
He turned away, slipping his hands into his pockets. His smile softened. That felt… good.
But just as he reached the building, someone stepped in front of him — a girl with long black hair, bright silver eyes, and an expression of amused curiosity.
"Li Cheng, right?" she asked, tilting her head. "You're… interesting. Maybe too interesting."
He blinked. "And you are?"
She smiled faintly. "A transfer student. But let's just say…" Her gaze sparkled. "…I like men who make arrogant people cry."
Before he could reply, she turned and walked away — her perfume lingering in the air like a soft challenge.
[Ding!]
New Side Quest Unlocked:
"The Girl Who Knows Too Much" — Investigate Mysterious Transfer Student "Qin Ruo."
Reward: ???
Li Cheng exhaled slowly, his grin returning. "So, the next chapter begins, huh?"
He looked up at the sky, sunlight glinting in his eyes.
"System," he said. "Let's give the campus something to talk about."